NEWSLETTER OF THE TENNESSEE NATIVE PLANT SOCIEPr Volume 36, Number 1 March 2012 Planning the Botanical Year TNPS Board Sets Plans for 2oi2 T NPS member emeritus Ed Schell once said he begins every spring refreshing his memory of the names and characteristics of native wildflov^ers. If you’re like Ed, a good place to start your review^ is among the pages of the TNPS guide, Wildflowers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians. As some TNPS members have discovered, high tech aides are available, as well. One helpful digital guide is Wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains, created by DLIA (Discover Life in Amer- ica). This application provides excellent photos and descrip- tions of some 200 species and provides other aides to plant identification. The Audubon Society has also developed a series of “apps” that includes a digital version of its Guide to North American Wildflowers, with many hundreds of photographs and descriptions to download onto your phone or pad. But there’s nothing equal to just getting out on the trail, near Trillium pusillum home or away in the wilderness, to freshen our memories and also our lungs. You will want to check and save the 2012 TNPS field trip schedule in this issue. Some non-TNPS events are also listed. A good place to find additional wildflower hikes is in an on-line list of state parks at www.tn.gov/environment/parks. Tennessee has an array of botanical gardens and arboretums. Below are three, one each in West, Middle, and East Tennessee: B ertha Chrietzberg, Michelle Haynes, and Susan Sweetser have been re-elected to new three-year terms on the TNPS Board of Directors. Their elections became official when no new nomi- nations were forthcoming after recommendations of the nominating committee. At its meeting January 7, the board approved a field trip schedule for 2012 and laid plans to participate in garden shows in both Mem- phis and Nashville and the Spring Wildflower Pilgrim- age in the Smokies. The entire field trip schedule, along with other events, is published in this issue. Also set your sight on the TNPS Annual Meeting scheduled for Sep- tember 14-16 at Carson Springs near Newport, Tennessee. The next meeting of the board will be held at 1 1 a.m. June 9 at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro. I The Old Forest, Memphis The Old Forest of Overton Park in Memphis is 172 acres of an old growth forest, known once as the Lea Woods, where conservation efforts began in 1901. Plant tax- onomist Dr. Tom Heineke was hired by Memphis to inventory the Old Forest in 2008. Large trees measured for possible inclusion as Tennessee Champion Trees included a 27-inch-diameter black cherry. A total of 332 flowering plant species were recorded, three-quarters of them native. Heineke’s management recommendation was removal of evergreen exotic species, which were competing with native species. Continued on hack page To Be a Savvy Native Plant Gardener Page 7 2 TNPS Newsletter Report from the President March 2012 Vol, 36 , No. 1 This newsletter is a publication of the Tennessee Native Plant Society and is published four times a year, generally in February, June, August, and November. The Tennessee Native Plant Society (TNPS) was founded in 1978 . Its purposes are to assist in the exchange of information and encourage fellowship among Tennessee’s botanists, both amateur and professional; to promote public education about Tennessee flora and wild plants in general; to provide, through publication of a newsletter or journal, a formal means of documenting information on Tennessee flora and of informing the public about wild plants; and to promote the protection and enhancement of Tennessee’s wild plant communities. Dues for each calendar year are Regular; $20 Student: Complimentary Institution: $50 Life: $250 Dues may be sent to Tennessee Native Plant Society P.O. Box 159274 Nashville, TN 37215 Officers Bart Jones, President Todd Crabtree, Vice-President Margie Hunter, Secretary Darel Hess, Treasurer Directors Bertha Chrietzburg Lorie Emens Michelle Haynes Dennis Horn Larry Pounds Mary Priestley Susan Sweetser Latham Davis, Editor Please send comments or material for the newsletter to TNPS Newsletter, P.O. Box 856 , Sewanee, TN lathamdavis@bellsouth.net s I sit here writing this it is almost 70 degrees in Memphis. Our “June- uary”, as dubbed by the media, has been nice. Tm sure we still have a bit more winter ahead of us, but it does make one itch for the approaching spring and the emergence of our beloved wildflowers. It is also the time when we publish our schedule of upcoming field trips. Once again our leaders are taking us to some wonderful places that Tm sure will pro- vide beautiful displays of flowers. I strongly encourage you to attend as many excursions as possible. Our trips are not only educational, but give members an opportunity to meet each other and for those who are already friends to reconnect after a long winter. Spring is the season for area garden shows and TNPS plans to participate in both the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show running March 1-4 and the Memphis Area Master Gar- deners Spring Fling which takes place on March 23 and 24. These shows give TNPS an opportunity to educate the public about our native flora, dispense gardening tips about using natives in the landscape, and talk about conservation efforts to protect our rare flora and communities. We will have our book for sale and membership brochures avail- able. Historically, these shows have been a vital tool in recruiting new members. But it takes volunteers to staff the booths and interact with the crowds, so if you have some free time during the shows, please consider helping out. You can contact me at bjones 7777 @hotmail.com or 901-726-6891 and we will get you signed up! Remember to look at the field trip schedule and mark your calendars for the trips you can attend. And with that, I sign off with a literal. . . See you on the trail! Governor Backs Conservation Funding T ennessee Conservation Voters (TVC) is thrilled that Gov. Bill Haslam has included all four of the Real Estate Transfer Funds in his proposed FY 2012- 1 3 Tennessee State Budget. The State Lands Acquisition Fund will be funded with $3,087,500; the Local Parks & Recreation Fund has been appropriated $3,71 8,700; the Wetlands Fund will receive $6,521,300; and the Agriculture Resources Gonservation Fund will receive $3,187,500. This is a whopping $16,5 1 5,000 for woods, water, and wildlife; for our children and grandchildren; for a beautiful and sustainable Tennessee; for our farmers and outdoorsmen; for a Forever Green Tennessee! We appreciate the governor’s leadership in conservation. We encourage you to write and thank him yourself. You can also email him at bill.haslam@tn.gov. Now, it's up to us to make sure that the General Assembly keeps these funds in their final, approved budget. We will monitor the finance hearings and keep you posted. But this is a huge step in the right direction. Thanks for letting me represent TNPS on the TCV policy council. — Michelle Haynes 3 2012 TNPS Field Trip Schedule Field trips are designed to promote informed interest in Tennessee’s native plants. They are led by persons familiar with native plants of the area and are open to nonmembers as well as members. We encourage our more experienced members to share their knowledge with those who are new to the group. Since conservation is a primary objective of our society, plant collecting is not allowed. The physical nature of the trip is described to the extent known at publication time. Attendees are responsible for judg- ing whether the trip is suitable for their particular abilities. All participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver as a condition of attending. Trips are rarely cancelled, but sometimes changes are unavoidable. Contact the trip leader a day or two before attending to get an updated status and to let them know who is coming. Keep the schedule and attend as many trips as you can. Check the website (www.tnps.org) for updates to this schedule. Time, place. Description Directions and leader March 3, 2012 (Sat.) 10 A.M. Central Time The Blue Chair, Sewanee. Leader: Dr. Paul Davison Contact: Mary Priestley 931-598-0157 Micro-Safari 2012 If you saw the write-up on Paul Davison’s micro-safari in the Nov/Dec issue of the Tennessee Conservationist, you know why this is such a popular field trip. With hand lenses and a few contrivances we aim to discover what few will ever see while in the field. A new device will be the baited slide. Join us as we scout for water bears, rotifers, and even ciliated protozoans that live among the mosses and wet leaves of the forest floor. While focused on the small, we will also take advantage of opportunities to observe leaf litter arthropods and other invertebrates. Carpooling to the site, a 4WD vehi- cle would be beneficial but may not be necessary. From 1-24 take exit 134 at Monteagle. Turn left on 41 A toward Sewanee and go about five miles, past a flashing light at St Andrew’s, through the Sewanee gates, continuing on 41 A to the second flashing light (the Sewanee village). Turn right there onto University Ave. The Blue Chair is on the left. Moderate hiking. Facilities at meeting place. Bring lunch. Co-sponsored by the Sewanee Herbarium. April 7, 2012 (Sat.) 10 A.M. Central Time General Store and Restaurant in downtown Rock Island. Contact Dennis Horn 931-461-0262 (home), horndd@lighttube.net Rock Island Spring Hike Rock Island State Park is located in the Caney Fork River gorge downstream of the Great Falls Dam. The dam backs water into both the Caney Fork and Collins rivers. Beautiful waterfalls are created by water from the Collins River that flows through the adjacent ridge into the Caney Fork gorge. The Blue Hole downstream is famous for fishing. A textile mill oper- ated in the gorge during the 1890s. The trails along the river are rich with spring flora. We plan to inventory the interesting and rare plants we find along the trail. Don’t miss this wonderful display of spring flowers and the beauty of the gorge. From Sparta take Hwy US 70S west toward McMinnville. Go about 10 to 15 miles. Look for the right turn to Rock Island (at the Dollar General). Proceed into town. The restaurant is on the left at the corner (TN 136 and TN 287) where TN 287 goes left. From McMinnville take Hwy US 70S east toward Sparta. Go about 12 to 15 miles. Look for the left turn to Rock Island (at the Dollar General). Follow directions above. Easy to moderate walking, 2 to 3 miles. Facilities at meeting place and lunch stop. Bring lunch and water, note pad, GPS. Natural Areas Week April 9-15 Tennessee Natural Areas Week, which will include an array of hiking opportunities, is scheduled for April 9-15. The lineup of hikes may be found at the website of the Department of Environment and Gonservation. http :/ / WWW. tn. gov/ environment/ na/ events/ Tennessee now has 82 designated state natural areas totaling more than 120,000 acres where rare, endangered, or unique plant and animal species are protected. 4 2012 TNPS Field Trip Schedule Time, place, Description Directions and leader April 14, 2012 (Sat.) Jackson Bend Outing 10 A.M. Eastern Time This is a joint outing with Tennessee Citizens for Meet at Citco gas sta- Wilderness Planning. We will caravan from the Citco tion (Bimbo’s) off I- station to the trail head. The trail follows the shore of 75, Lenior City exit. Tellico Lake. We will see many spring wildflowers. Contact Larry There is a cliffy area in the second half of the hike. An Pounds uncommon plant here is the northeastern tansy-mus- 865-705-8516 (cell) tard (Descuriania pinnata). Dr. Ed Clebsch plans to join 865-816-3576 (home) us. PoundsL471@aol.com From 1-40 west of 1-75 take the US 321 exit toward Lenoir City. Citco is on the right just before you reach 1-75. From 1-75 take the Lenoir City exit. If com- ing from the south turn left over 1-75 on US 321. If from the north turn right onto US 321. Citco is on the left side of US 321 by 1-75. From Oak Ridge take TN 95, which becomes US 321 or Pellissippi Pky to 1-75. Difficulty: An out and back hike of length to your choosing or a moderate 5-mile hike, with shuttle. Some steep sections in last half of the hike. Bring lunch with water. Also bring bug spray. April 21, 2012 (Sat.) Cane Creek Canyon Preserve From Memphis - Take Hwy. 72 through 10 A.M. Central Time Cane Creek Canyon Preserve is a privately owned Mississippi and Alabama to Hawk Pride Meeting Place: Home property in northwest Alabama that protects a diverse Mountain Rd., turn right. Go to Loop Rd, of owner Jim set of habitats including steep canyons, rockhouses, turn right. Go past Flatwoods Rd. and James Lacefield, Colbert karst forests, bogs, waterfalls, and creek sides; all sup- Pn. Take next right ("Y” intersection), then County, Alabama. porting an equally diverse flora. We expect to see an the next right. The Lacefield’s home is at the Bart Jones: impressive number of spring ephemerals such as large end of this road (251 Loop Rd, Tuscumbia. 901-726-6891 (h) yellow lady’s slipper, several azaleas, trilliums, and From Nashville and east - Take 1-65 901-485-2745 (c) other species we recognize as being associated with the south to Hwy. 72 in Athens (Lee Hwy). Go bjones7777@hotmail. Cumberland Plateau. Our target plant is French’s west to Florence (72 becomes Florence Blvd., com shootingstar (Dodecatheon frenchii), a sandstone rock- then E. Tennessee St.) and turn left on S. house specialist, found only at this site in Alabama and Court St. which crosses die Tennessee River scattered locations along an arc through Kentucky, and becomes N. Jackson Hwy. Take left onto Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, but curiously. Woodward Ave. (Hwy. 43) and go to Hwy, 72 skipping Tennessee. It is never common and grows only (Pee Hwy). Turn right and go to Hawk Pride along the drip lines of the overhangs of the rockhouses Mountain Rd. Turn left and follow directions in damp sandy soil. above. Difficulty: Easy to moderate, may be some steep sections and wet areas. Mr. Lacefield will take us on a guided tour. Facilities: At meeting place and campgrounds in the preserve. Bring lunch. April 20-22, 2012 — Trails & Trilliums: Sponsored by the Friends of South Cumberland State Park and held in the Monteagle Assembly in Monteagle, Tennessee, this event includes several area hikes, garden tours, children’s activities, and a plant sale. Find the full schedule at http.trailsandtrllliums.org April 25-29 — Great Smoky Mountains Wildflower Pilgrimage: This annual favorite destination for wildflower enthusiasts provides a large selection of hikes led by skilled botanists, including TNPS members, as well as lectures and exhibits. Check www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org. April 28 — Elsie Quarterman Glade Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park: A series of hikes through the limestone cedar glades. A program and roundtable discussion will be held the evening before. More information on state parks website or at http://frank.mtsu.edu/~gladectr/ 5 / would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. — E. B. White Time, place, Description Directions and leader June 2, 2012 (Sat.) 10 A.M. Central Time Meet at Cedars of Lebanon State Park in parking lot adja- cent to the Nature Center, Todd Crabtree: 615-532-1378 or Todd,Crabtree@tn.gov Tennessee Coneflower Tour Our group will take a botanical tour of several cedar glades in Middle Tennessee to see rare plants which are found in glades and barrens. The Tennessee coneflower is one of these rare plants and it has been removed from the Endangered Species list. It is now thriving at Vesta Cedar Glade SNA and Couchville Cedar Glade SNA. These two natural areas will be the focus of our tour but other sites will be an option. Our tour is timed for the peak of flowering so plenty of flowers will be seen. We will see numerous other rare species in the glades and discuss why they occur in this special habitat. Spring will be turning to summer and we will catch some plants from both seasons in flower. Cedars of Lebanon State Park is located approximately 31 miles east of Nashville in Wilson County. It is 6 miles south of 1-40 on U.S. Highway 231 (State Route 10). Turn East onto Cedar Forest Road and follow signs to the Nature Center. Difficulty: The hiking will not be strenuous but on a sunny day the heat can be an issue in cedar glades. Plan accordingly to avoid over- heating or sunburn. Facilities: At meeting place Lunch: Bring along with plenty of water. We plan to complete the tour by 2 p.m. For maps and more information about these natural areas visit: http://www.tn.gov/envi- ronment/ na/ natareas/ June 30, 2012 (Sat.) 10 A.M. Eastern Meeting Place: Cling- man’s Dome parking area. Allen & Susan Sweetser Andrews Bald of Great Smokies High elevation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Forney Ridge Trail. The hike starts around 6300 feet and descends from Spruce-Fir forest to Andrew’s Bald at elevation 5860 feet — boreal forest to grassy, open-mountain bald. If you have never been to a Smokies bald, this is the easiest reach to see flame azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum) and hopefully purple-fringed orchids (Platanthera psy- codes). Enter the Smokies from Gatlinburg,TN; Cherokee, NC; or Townsend, TN. Follow road signs to Newfound Gap and Clingman’s Dome — elevation 6600 feet. Difficulty: 4.2 miles round-trip hike. This trail is downhill going to the bald and uphill returning. It is a 400-foot elevation change in two miles. It is a rocky, steep trail in places but we will go slow and easy. Facilities at parking area. Bring lunch, water, cool- wet weather gear (layers) to hot, sunny, dry gear (sunscreen, hat), and good hiking shoes. August 4, 2012 (Sat.) 10 a.m. Gentral Meeting Place: The Farm Welcome Cen- ter at The Farm, Summertown Bart Jones 901-726-6891 (h) 901-485-2745 (c) bjones7777@hotmail .com Restored Prairie Barrens The Prairie Barrens, located at The Farm at Summer- town, is a large field that was restored from pastures over many years by the members of The Farm commu- nity. Rudheckia, Liatris, and Helianthus species should be blooming in profusion, along with other prairie species. This is a joint trip with the Swan Conservation Trust, which is based at The Farm and is the recipient of last year’s TNPS conservation group donation. From the west: Take 1-40 to exit 126. Turn right onto Hwy. 69. Go to Hwy. 412 in Parsons, turn left. Go through Linden and on to Hohenwald. Follow signs in Hohenwald to Hwy. 20E. Go east to Drakes Ln. (Look for white “Farm” sign). Turn left. As Drakes Ln. bears left, take a right onto Walker Rd. Farm entrance is on left. If Walker turns to dirt road, you’ve gone too far. From east: Take 1-40 to Hwy. 840. Go west on 840 to 1-65 south. Exit Saturn Pkwy. (Hwy. 396), Go to exit 31, turn right and go to Columbia and Hwy. 412. Turn right onto 412 which will become Hwy. 43. Continue to Hwy. 20 in Summertown and turn right. Fol- low 20 through Summertown and turn right onto Drakes Ln. Follow directions above. Difficulty: Easy Facilities at meeting place. Bring lunch. 2012 TNPS Field Trip Schedule Time, place, Description Directions and leader Sept. 22, 2012 (Sat.) 10 A.M. Central Meeting Place: General Store and Restaurant in down- town Rock Island (corner of TN 136 and TN 287) Leader: Dennis Horn 931-461-0262 horndd@liglittube.net Rock Island Fall Hike We return to Rock Island State Park to see the beauty of the unique gorge and to sample the late summer and fall flowers. We plan to continue listing the interesting and rare plants that we find. The bluffs will be full of southern maidenhair fern that hang from the cliff seeps. Other plants we are likely to see include cardinal flower, great blue Lobelia, beautyberry, roundleaf catchfly, heart ’s-a-bustin, mistflower, slender Gerardia (Agalinis), and tall false indigo (Amorpha). A great place for wildflowers any time of the year. For directions see the Rock Island hike on April 7, 2012. Difficulty: Easy to moderate walking, one to two miles. Facilities at meeting place and lunch stop. Bring lunch along with water, note pad, GPS. Oct. 20, 2012 (Sat.) 9 A.M. Central Meeting Place: Alabama trailhead for Walls of Jericho Todd Crabtree 615 532-1378, todd.crabtree@tn.gov Hike to Walls of Jericho Catch the fall colors and late-blooming wildflowers at the Walls of Jericho State Natural Area in Franklin County. This strenuous eight-mile hike descends 900 feet into the “Walls” and continues along the creek to an amazing canyon of sheer rock bluffs, caves, and waterfalls. Dress appropriately for the weather, wear sturdy boots, and bring plenty of water and lunch. Participants should be in good physical condition. The trip will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. For maps and more informa- tion about these natural areas visit: http :// WWW. tn. gov/ environment/ n a/natareas/. P^From Huntsville, Ala., go North on Highway 72. Take a left on Highway 79 to the Skyline/Hytop community. The Walls of Jericho tract is just north of Hytop; Highway 79 goes through the tract. From Nashville, Tenn., take 1-24 east toward Chattanooga. Take Exit 127 on High- way 64 and turn toward Winchester. Stay on Highway 64 for about 15 miles and turn south on Highway 16. Just after crossing into Alabama, look on the right for a gravel park- ing area with a yellow gate and an informa- tion kiosk. Difficulty: Six to seven miles round trip, 900- foot elevation change. This hike is very stren- uous and includes two stream crossings on single log bridges. Facilities: none Bring lunch and plenty of water. 7 Native Plants Make Good Gardens*** for the Savvy Gardener Lorie Emens T here are many reasons to grow native plants in your garden and many misconceptions on their use. Dou- glas Tallamy does a wonderful job of explaining the ecological benefits of using native plants in Bringing Nature Home. Many people promote the use of native plants as a way of preserving our natural heritage. These are both good rea- sons to grow native plants, but most people will use them because they are beautiful. Often I hear conflicting opinions on the use of natives. One side claims that they are easier to grow because they evolved in the region and are therefore well adapted to the environment. This is true in part. They are adapted to the weather and wildlife, but few of us are lucky enough to have soil in native conditions in our yards. The second group argues that native plants are difficult to grow— that they have such specific demands and that we must duplicate their natu- ral conditions exactly. However, duplicating their natural envi- ronment is not necessary. Plants grow in the wild where they are not losing to competitors, not necessarily where they per- form their best. There are many misconceptions on growing native plants, most well intentioned and espoused by the very people pro- moting their use. One misconception I often hear is that native plants aren’t invasive. Maybe, if you only allow for a very strict definition of the word, but anyone who has ever planted Asclepias in their butterfly garden or Physostegia virginiana will attest that they can spread far and wide. And anyone who has ever planted Chasmanthium latifolium knows that it will come up anywhere the seeds land. This is no reason to avoid these plants. A butterfly garden without Asclepias is incom- plete; Physostegia virginiana grows well in a container and makes a great cut flower; and the fact that Chasmanthium lati- folium will grow in so many varied conditions, stays upright, holds its seed heads and remains attractive well into the winter make it garden worthy. Another misconception is that natives do not need to be watered because they are adapted to the weather conditions, including rainfall. While it is true that an established plant properly sited should require little supplemental water, even wild plants can be affected by drought and suffer damage. Perhaps my favorite misconception is that native plants don’t require pesticides. True, they are rarely severely damaged by native pests but there are unfortunately as many non-native pests as plants. Our forests are currently under attack by imported insects and diseases that will potentially cause irreparable damage. Closer to our own gardens, I have yet to see a Euonymus americanus not covered in scale or whitefly and usually both. No plant requires pesticide. It is a choice you make. The fact is, gardening with native plants is no dif- ferent from gardening with any other kind of plant. Prepare the site as appropriate and choose a plant suited to your site. It will reward you for years. The benefits of growing native plants are both ecological and aesthetic. It’s good for our world and our souls. H Lorie Emens first began to study native plants as a naturalist at Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis where she learned to grow and propagate a wide range of native perennials, shrubs and trees. Erom there she became the horticulturist at Dixon Gallery and Gardens where she shared her love of these plants through lectures, articles, the Spring Wildflower Sale, and working with volunteers. Currently she has her own landscape company. Gardens GaLorie, through which she promotes the use of native plants in the garden and continues to lecture. Sharpening Our Botanical Eyes — Continued Last June Gov. Bill Haslam signed a law designating 126 of the arboretum’s 172 acres as Tennessee’s 82 nd State Natural Area. Old Forest Arboretum in on the National Register of Historic Places. Howe Wildflower Garden, Cheekwood, Nashville The Howe Garden at Nashville’s Gheekwood Mansion is a woodland wild- flower garden that was originally at the East Nashville home of Gora Howe. Started in the 1920s, it was known then as Wildings and it attracted many visitors. In 1969 the garden was moved to Cheekwood Botanic Gardens. In recent years, it became clear that the garden was waning, and last year Cheek- wood began an $83 5,000 renovation. The renovated original Wildings garden and the addition of a rain garden is scheduled to be open this April. The Howe Garden features herbaceous and woody native plants, a trillium collection, and a pond. Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville Ijams Nature Center, situated along the Tennessee River near Knoxville, is a 27 5 -acre wildlife sanctuary and natural area featuring ten miles of natural sur- face trails plus a stretch of paved Greenway. Named for the conservation-con- scious Ijams family that once owned and nurtured this woodland area, the center has survived through highs and lows of interest and care but now thrives through the efforts of many volunteers and a dedicated staff. The landscape includes meadows, ponds, woodlands, and an extensive boardwalk along the river. Erythronium albidum The photographs on pages 1, 2, 3, and above are from the camera of Darel Hess of Mount Juliet. The regret is that we have to publish these color photos in black and white, or grayscale, to use the printing term. Nevertheless, wildflowers can he beautiful even in hack and white. 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